The district has introduced the Bond Measure 20-354 for the May ballot, which will also award the district a grant if the Bond is passed to update the school’s facilities.
On Feb. 26 the school board voted unanimously to put the new bond on the May 2024 ballot. The 16 million dollar bond will have an additional six million awarded through the Oregon School Capital Improvement Matching (OSCIM) grant.
If the bond passes on the May ballot the district will receive a total of 22 million dollars for improving school facilities.
There will be no tax increase because this is just an extension of previous bonds that have been passed.
The bond is set to improve the district’s classrooms, technology, mechanical systems, sport complexes and many other small improvements.
Veneta Elementary School will have a few upgrades, such as a new gym, and improvements to the parking lot and playground.
Fern Ridge Middle School will have many upgrades to their classrooms with some minor changes to make them more modern. The science wing will be getting a make over and will have three top of the line science rooms with both a classroom area and a lab area to expand student learning.
The band and choir classrooms will be getting some changes to the flooring and sound proofing. The outside cover area is falling apart and will be replaced because it is unsafe. The parking lot will be upgraded to make pick up and drop off easier.
Elmira High School will see a track replacement and the installation of a turf field with a new grandstand, along with other small improvements for athletics.
Exterior doors will be fixed and redone to fix errors with the locking mechanisms and there will be improvements to the parking lot. Upgrades for the science department are also planned.
Most of the schools in the district will have upgrades to their heating and ventilation systems.
If the bond is passed this May these projects will be worked on over the next few years.
The voter registration deadline was Tuesday and Ballots will be mailed out on Wednesday. Election day is scheduled for May 21 with ballots being due at 8:00 p.m.
More information about the bond, scheduled projects, and answers to frequently asked questions can be found at https://www.fernridgebond.com/.
